Division 1 Football

David R.

September 28, 2009 - 10:30 PM

Many students will tell you that the Oregon football season is one of the highlights of fall term. When the number six Cal Bears came to Eugene on Saturday, the post game mood was much higher than it was after the Cal game two years ago when Cameron Colvin fumbled with little time left in the second half to halt the Ducks comeback attempt. After the Duck's week one blunder in Boise few might have believed that the Ducks would be later capable on conquering the sixth ranked team in the nation, by 29 points no less. In a remarkable display by the defense, the Ducks we able to hold the Cal offense to no more than three points. Jahvid wasn't his Best as the Ducks were able to force a punt or a turnover on every drive after Cal's initial field goal scoring drive after a Walter Thurmond fumble. Many people, including Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops have said that the Autzen noise factor makes it one of the hardest places to play in the country. This makes for an incredible game day experience. The noise that never stops comes from a proud group of roughly 58,000 dedicated fans that love Oregon football. Not everyone can say that they have been a part of thousands and thousands of screaming fans at the football stadium of a prestigious and renowned Division 1 college football team. The experience is incredible and unforgettable. There is a reason that tickets can sell out in two minutes. Thousands of students are fighting to get a ticket to the next week's game, because Oregon's football games are a lifetime experience for many students. When I first began my college search as a senior in high school. I was pretty certain I was going to a smaller to school to try to play baseball. I only decided to visit Oregon because me and my dad were at somewhat nearby Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. Shortly after arriving in Eugene I took a tour and began realizing that Oregon had one of the prettiest campuses I had ever seen. From the buzz around campus, I also quickly realized that Oregon basketball, another yearly highlight, happened to be hosting number one ranked UCLA that same morning. The tour ended and after half an hour of constant begging my dad and I were able to watch the last three minutes of Oregon's upset of UCLA from inside McArthur Court. It had been a while since I had been to any large collegiate sporting events, and I forgot how incredible they were. I realized soon after that I wanted to go to a school with large, popular, athletic programs. I can truthfully say that the thought of Oregon football games is one of the things that drew me here. Recalling my experience from the basketball game, I knew that the football games had to be unbelievable. And they are. I will never forget my first game when the Ducks played Cal in 2007. The experience at Oregon's football games is something that students at smaller schools cant experience. The thought of it can be a turning factor to any student who is searching for the best college. It was for me. I realized that sports had been a part of me my entire life, and I wanted to be a part of big school football. I have never regretted my decision. I hope the Ducks can keep their success rolling with WSU and UW, and I only hope that I will be one of the lucky few to get a ticket to see the nationally renowned Southern California Trojans when they trek up to the Autzen Zoo on halloween night as the Ducks seek revenge for last years defeat in L.A.